Thursday, February 16, 2017

MastMate--Climbing the Mast the Easy Way

Rope-based mast climbing systems are all the rage--and they do have the
advantage of simplicity--but my good old rope ladder has served me well
for 25 years. Heck, the surveyor I used on my current boat used a Mast
Mate. But there are a few tricks that help.

The most common criticism leveled against hoisted ladders, like the Mastmate, is that the sail must be lowered and removed from the track. In actual fact, the sail can remain in place, either stacked on the mast or hoisted.

A climbing harness would be much better.

Hoist Outside the Track.The instructions are adamant that it
MUST be in the track, and it does climb a little easier that way, but
I've been setting it free for 20 years. After hoisting to the top, lower
6 inches, clip the lowest eye to something solid, and tension hard with
the halyard winch. To me, it simply isn't worth unloading a part of the
sail, opening the mast gate, and fooling with 30 slugs.

Wear a Climbing Harness. It should fit tightly enough on the
waist that it can NOT be slid off, even if you were to fall upside down.
If this is not possible because of physique, you cannot climb.

Use a Second Halyard as a Safety Line. I tension the spinnaker
halyard and secure it to the mast base. A run an ascender (rope grab) up
the line to protect against falls and to allow rest. Alternatively, a
crew member could tail it on a winch.

Wear slim profile shoes. Easier to get in the steps. I'm happy with deck shoes. Most running shoes stink.

When not in use, store the ladder coiled, from top to bottom, with the steps flattened in the correct position. This
will insure that they open correctly and will make hoisting easier
(won't catch on the spreaders). Secure with twine to make certain it
stays that way. when hoisting, open the steps as they go up.

Coil for storage. I'm a "crammer" by nature, and I can tell you from experience, it is a mistake.

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As much as I love sailing, putting my daughter through college and funding my 401K are more important. Transitioning from professional engineer to writer has transformed my habit of living efficiently into a passion for spreading funds thin. I like to think of it as a challenge for the imagination—it’s more fun that way.

I’ve written over 100 equipment reviews and engineering articles for popular sailing magazines, all based on laboratory and hands-on testing. I’ve spent 30 years learning how to maintain, fix, and upgrade. I've also spent 35 years as a chemical engineer, and my wife thinks I live in my basement shop.

As a result I’ve become a fair hand most crafts, never get stuck in the field with something I can’t fix, and I've learned to spread money thin, without compromising speed, reliability, or performance. Although I've written on many topics, my wife assures me this is the one I know best. My magnum opus?

About Me

This is my place to share my enthusiasm for the Chesapeake Bay, Delmarva Peninsula, PDQ specific minutia, and sailing in general. As a regular contributor to sailing magazines including Practical Sailor and Good Old Boat (over 100 articles), it provides a place to try out ideas and publish the overflow. Here I can blurt it out half formed ideas, collect comments, and to see what questions my inquiry suggests. If I need to get long winded or philosophical, it’s my space to do so.
After 10 years of kayaking, 25 years of sailing, 30 years of rock and ice climbing, and 35 years as a chemical engineer, I still have much to learn and my life is still one giant science project. My end of the pier is always festooned with test rigs and warning signs. Every research project brings surprises—things I didn’t know, and just as often, things no one knew. And so through books and articles, I share.